#keryn

#5 Which, if any, of the major cities or cultures does your WoL/OC consider to be their childhood point-of-origin? Why did they leave? Do they go back and visit? How do they feel about coming from this place?

Keryn doesn't really consider any of the major cities or cultures as related to her childhood as being a point of origin, exactly. She grew up in a merchant caravan that traveled between Ul'dah and Gridania seasonally, so her childhood was largely spent on the road.

Her father was a Duskwight from the Shroud, so there's a bit of minor attachment to Gridania from that side - but it's also a negative association in some ways as well. Her mother was a Sharlayan naturalist who did not return so there's not really any attachment to Sharlayan either - she heard plenty of stories of the Studium and the Forum but she internalized that this was a place she'd never see and was certainly not home in any way.

 The flowers were everywhere. Keryn looked around in some amount of dismay - she'd wanted a few of the arrangements placed around, but it appeared as though the staff at the chapel had gone rather overboard. Strangely enough, there was no discernable scent from them, and she walked up to one cautiously. A quick touch of one of the leaves confirmed it. These were silk flowers, artfully constructed to resemble the real thing. It made a certain amount of sense, considering the number of weddings that took place here. Using false flowers allowed for them to keep only what they needed on hand, without worrying about disposal and acquiring new ones after. Relieved, Keryn went back to inspecting the final arrangements.

She was determined to not think too much about it, about her impending wedding. A bubble of doubt and delight bubbled up in her at the sight of the full chapel, however, despite her best efforts. Delight, because this was exactly the sort of thing she'd always dreamed of as a child. She'd seen plenty of rough handfasting in the merchant caravan, but had listened to tales of grander events from the various people who had filtered in and out. Doubt, because she still could not quite believe that this was happening to her, of all people. She'd settled into happiness at being perpetually single, cherishing her friends and not needing anything more.

Then Niefirst had crashed into her life, a wreck of an Au Ra in need of Keryn's talents as a healer. After she had recovered, to the best of anyone's ability, the two had worked together as part of their service to the Scions. What had started as begrudging friendship (on Niefirst's part, Keryn had been much less prickly) had blossomed into romance that  ended with the pair of them here, in this chapel.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the feel of arms around her waist and a head burying itself against her back. "Stay there," Niefirst murmured, releasing Keryn and stepping back. The Elezen woman could hear the whisper of fine silk behind her, and wondered what exactly she was waiting for. "Okay, turn around!" came the exclamation, full of laughter. She did so slowly, keeping her eyes closed until she had fully turned around to avoid spoiling whatever surprise awaited.

It was spring, which meant two things. One, Keryn's allergies were full blown, and the Elezen was downing a potion to help relieve her symptoms like clockwork. Two, it was time to consider what to plant in the Free Company's garden for the season. The question was not usually one that she gave a lot of time to, as the gardens were typically tended by another member of the company. Keryn had only a passing interest in gardening, due to her allergies to a large variety of plant life, and was definitely content to let someone else handle it. Sometimes she wished it was otherwise, as the few times she had been able to work in the gardens reminded her of time spent with her mother. Learning about plants had been as much a part of her childhood as learning how to judge the value of cloth or gems, and she missed the feel of earth under her fingers, working it to plant new life.

 "Papa?" Keryn stood next to the wagon, digging the toes of one foot into the dirt. "Did you know tomorrow's my birthday?"

He chuckled, and ruffled her hair with one hand. "Yes, little sparrow, I did. Was there something else I needed to know about it?"

"D'you know what kind of cake Mama made? She won't tell me." 

"It's a surprise," he said, winking as he picked her up to settle on one shoulder as he walked them over to their campfire. She loved being up high, being tall like Papa and Mama, especially at night when she could see the stars.

"I hope it's chocolate! Or rolanberry!" She paused to contemplate which would be better. "Can you have a chocolate rolanberry cake?" Clearly this was the ultimate cake, if it existed. "Papa I want a chocolate rolanberry cake!"

"And where would we get the rolanberries, hm? Did Mama keep some frozen from last year just for your cake?" Keryn started to wiggle in excitement at the thought, nevermind if it was actually practical to keep a parcel of food frozen for nine months when you lived out of a wagon, on the road more often than not. "Just promise me you won't be disappointed if it's not a chocolate rolanberry cake, yes? Your Mama did her best for you, and that's what matters." 

"Yes Papa," she replied, patting her much smaller hand against his head like he did to her. "Mama always makes the best cakes." She wrinkled her nose. "Do I have to share with Kai? He pushed me in the mud last week!" Huffing in indignation, she clung tighter to her father to seek reassurance.

It was only while removing her armor that Keryn realized that she'd taken some damage to it. Apparently that last hit from the Garlean's sword had been more impactful than she remembered. Probably down to adrenaline, and as she stared at the scale that formed the main portion of the mail armor, she wondered if there was going to be a bruise underneath. Likely. Should do something about that. But first, the armor. 

Stepping outside the small inn room she had taken for the night, Keryn made her way back down to the main floor as she was fairly certain there had been a mender who had set up shop there. Disappointment, however, waited once she had made it back out to the common area - there was only the innkeeper and no one else. "Excuse me," she said, holding up the armor as a sort of explanation for what she was needing. "I was wondering..."

"Mender, eh? Went home for the night, but they'll be back in the morning." He shrugged. "No one else around, in case you were thinking of heading out this late at night." She hadn't realized it was late at night, but that would certainly explain why there was no one else in sight. Hm. Concussion maybe? She was mulling the thought over when she recognized that the innkeeper was still speaking. "I said, d'you need anything else?"

"Oh, sorry," she replied with a flush, lowering the armor. "No, I'll be fine for the night. Thank you." Always be polite to those who ran inns, her father had taught her. In a small community, they were often the best source of information and could make or break your reputation to boot. Keryn bowed slightly, overly polite, before heading back upstairs to her room. Well. Maybe she could repair it herself? The armor wasn't damaged that badly, it mainly looked like the scale had detached from the leather underneath, which should be easy enough to sew on. Normally, waiting for the professional to repair gear was the best idea, but she had some place else to be tomorrow and would be leaving quite early. She could sew, and it could be that hard, surely.

 "Well," Keryn said slowly, "That's definitely not supposed to be here." She stared up at the towering Goobue, drawing her staff and readying an offensive spell as it roared at her. Unlike  most Goobues she had seen, this one was a dark mottled grey with white vegetation on it's head and what appeared to be a smaller mouth in it's midsection. Clearly the sign of something unhealthy, and worthy of further investigation. Once she had managed to deal with this zombie Goobue, or whatever it was. She didn't really think it was fair to send her to investigate the faded magic of the city of Amdapor alone as a fresh White Mage apprentice. She was still learning to control the magic she was apparently 'quite gifted' in, and she longed for the feel of her lance in hand instead of the rough hewn staff she now carried. "I am going to have a nice talk with Raya-O-Senna after this."

Uncaring of her experience, the Goobue lumbered towards her, arms outstretched, causing Keryn to hastily loose Aero at it as she dodged the attack. Her instincts told her to swing her staff as the monster passed by, but she instead started casting Stone, hoping to slow it down so she could get out of it's reach. The spell landed a hit, chunks of earth pelting the Goobue's hide. The sudden attack did cause it to stop briefly, time Keryn used to try and go back the way she came. The Padjal had said that the ward protecting the city were starting to fade, but that there wouldn't be any real danger. Then again, this could have been something within the city already, and not an outside creature making it's way inside. That was something for the Padjal to figure out especially as Keryn's more immediate focus was on getting away from the abnormal being. 

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Viacom settlement approved after deal reached to protect mogul's granddaughter, Keryn Redstone